Winemaker Notes
Alluvia Parcel is a wine of a deep black-violet color and great aromatic complexity. It displays intense black fruit aromas – blackberry, blueberry and raspberry – combined with marked mineral graphite notes. In the mouth, it has a great breadth and balance, with firm tannins that make its finish very persistent.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Stunning nose of ripe blackberries, cloves and roasted artichokes. Concentrated and elegant in spite of its great scale. The polished tannins carry the very long generous finish beautifully.
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Wine Spectator
Rich, ripe and filled with dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors that are luscious and intensely spiced. Cassis and dark chocolate notes fill the decadent finish, which lingers with chocolate mousse notes and hints of pepper.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Produced exclusively with grapes from their Alluvia vineyard in Gualtallary, the 2014 Alluvial Parcel Malbec achieved 15.3% alcohol but retained good acidity and freshness. It comes from the head-pruned sector of the vineyard, from 11-year-old vines that are very stony and low yielding. It fermented in small vats with selected yeasts and matured in brand new French barriques for 22 months. This has superb fruit and high potential...
Rating: 91(?) -
Wine Enthusiast
A chalky, stony nose screams of the alluvial rocks that inundate the vineyard from which this comes. Of course, there's also a lot of berry fruit in the picture. Ripe but energetic on the palate, this tastes of black fruit, coffee and pepper. A firm, classy finish is full and juicy.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.